My very first experience of preaching publicly was at an open-air service in the car park of a seaside village (Ballygally, County Antrim) 14 miles from my home. Our Youth Fellowship had been asked to sing choruses, share testimony and bring a short word. My youth leader gave me this advice: ‘make sure you grab their attention.’ So after much prayer and panic I decided to speak on ’salvation is for today’. I took the passage from Exodus 8:8-10 where Pharaoh called on Moses and Aaron to ask God to remove the frogs, and Moses asks (verse 9) ‘when’. And Pharaoh says (verse 10) ‘tomorrow’. So to introduce my sermon I shouted into a microphone, ‘Why? Why? Another day with the frogs?’ Now I can’t tell you we had many converts within a busy car park area and shop, but I was told I did get their attention.

Jesus was the master at getting people’s attention. On many occasions his use of hyperbole and paradox was so profound. And here is a wonderful example: ‘I did not come to bring peace on earth but a sword.’ Division within family: he talks about family being enemies. Loss of life to find life! Jesus certainly had the attention of his disciples as he explained their calling to mission, in our passage which was part of what is sometimes referred to as ‘the mission discourse’.

DIVISION

In John 17, that great priestly prayer, Jesus makes the distinction in verse 25 between those who know him and those who don’t. When you don’t know him there is a difference in values, principles, preferences, desires. And so for those who do know, and bring a call to often the opposite views, there will be division. It’s unavoidable, like in American football when you have opposing plans and goals and men running in different directions. There is a collision, so mission brings division.

CHALLENGE

Let me use a phrase of Paul’s, not in its original context, ‘unknown and yet well known’ (2 Corinthians 6:9). Mission is often well known. But still so much unknown. And I think particularly when it comes to our devotion to Jesus we are familiar with the need to be committed but we need this deep awareness that such devotion, making him priority in life (verse 37), is a perpetual challenge of love. We can’t continue to use our rear-view mirror regarding what we surrendered in the past. It must be our daily communion with him and seeking to be worthy of our calling.

FULFILMENT

Mission collides. Mission is challenging and inspiring. But we can also see mission here as life not just in an eternity to come, which is a precious hope, but the fulfilment in our lives that comes in what we ‘find’ (verse 39). For me that finding of life comes in my preparation for sermons and teaching; in the moments of prayer with the vulnerable, hurting and seeking; discovering the wonder of ‘doing unto the least of them‘ (Matthew 25:40); moments around his table and in baptism; receiving into membership; the excitement of dreams being planned; texts about answers to prayer and seeing the Spirit move in lives; his creation; his touch upon me and others we love. There is fulfilment in mission.

CONCLUSION

Why another day with frogs? It was all about getting attention. Jesus certainly got their attention. The master of paradox and hyperbole teaches by talking about peace and sword, dividing family enemies and family loves. Priorities being measured against those we are meant to love so much. Finding is actually losing. He uses such techniques in his discourse on mission (Matthew 10) and I have picked out three insights shared:

Division: Our mission will clash with so many opinions and views in a world where many (as Jesus said in his priestly prayer in John 17) do not know him.

Challenge: Jesus brings understanding of just how deep our commitment must be. And it’s something we can’t become too familiar with or rely on looking in the rear-view mirror at what we surrendered before. As his faithfulness is new every morning so our devotion in its completeness must be. There are many, yet unknown, ways.

Fulfilment: What is it we find in our loss? It’s just how fulfilling mission can be.